Speed-changing mechanism.



R. SYMMONDS.

SPEED CHANGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APILQ, 1904.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

R. SYMMONDS.

SPEED GHANGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB..9, 1904.

929,997. Patented Aug. 3,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT SYMIMONDS, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, ssieNon TO THOMAS Bi JEFFERY,0F

KENos'HA, WISCONSIN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT SYMMONDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kenosha, county of Kenosha, State of Wisconsin, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Speed-ChangingMechanism, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad ,to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates in general to power transmission mechanism, andmore particularly to differential gearing interposed between a motor anda driven element whereby the latter may be rotated at various speeds inone direction, or in areverse direction.

It isdesirable, especially in automobiles,

'to soconnect the motor with a; driven element, which in turn 15operatively connected to the-rear axle of the automobile, that the speedand power transmitted from the motor may be varied at the will of theoperator, and that the direction of rotation of the driven element maybe reversed while the motor continues torun in the same direction.

lhe primary object of my invention is to provide transmission mechanismfor connecting a-m0t0r to a driven-element, which may be readilyadjusted to inversely vary the speed and power of rotation of theelement or to reversethe direction of rotationthereof.

A-furtherobject of my invention is toprovide a-difl'erentialtransmission mechan ism which will be simple in-construction',inexpensive in manufacture, and efficient in operation.

My invention, generally desorib'ed,- consists in' a shaftirotativelyconnected to a motor, a-fly wheel fixed-upon the shaft, having fixedthereon the members of two separate clutches, an axially movable clutchmember co'dperating with one of said fixed clutch members looselysurrounding the shaft, a sleeve constituting a driven elerigidlyconnected to sai movable clutch member, a second axially movable, clutchmembercotiperating with the: second fixedolutch=member looselysurrounding the hubof the first-member, a disk secured-to saidsecond-movable clutch member and forming Specification of LettersPatent". Application filed April 9, 1904-. Serial No. 202,468.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

- therewith acarrier-in which are journaled stub shaftshaving fixedthereon three pinions, one of said pinions meshing with a relativelylarger gear carried. by said sleeve, alarger one of said pinions meshingwith a relatively smaller gear carried by a'second sleeve looselysurrounding the first sleeve, and a third and smallest of said pinionsmeshing with a relatively larger gear carried by a third sleeve looselysurrounding the second sleeve, means for separately stopping therotation of eachof said sleeves, and means for moving said first sleeveand with it the surrounding sleeves and movable clutch members axiallyupon, the driving shaft, thereby engaging the members of one clutch anddisengaging the members of the other clutch.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying .drawingsin which the same isillustratedas embodied ina convenient and practical form, and in which- Figure 1: is a centralsectional view; Fig. 2 a detail view of the clutch band operatingmechanism; and Fig. 3a sectional view on line 3--3, Fig; 1.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts inthe three figures of the drawings.

Reference letter A- indicates a shaft which is rotated=by any suitablepower connections,-

' carried bytheshaft and preferably formed integrally'with' the 'flywheel C. C designates one member of-asecond clutch and is also carriedby the fly wheel C. Any suitable means may be provided for securing themember C to the fly wheel, such for instance as boltsc extending througha radial flange of the clutch member into engagementwith the fly wheel.V The surfaces of the two fixed clutch members C and C are preferablyconical and so arranged that their greatest diameters arc'adjacent eachother.

1 D deslgnates a movable clutch member adapted to cooperate with thefixed member C. The clutch member D concentrically surrounds and isfixedto the inner end of a 'sleeve E which constitutes-a driven element.

Any suitable means" may beprovided for fixing the member upon the sleeveE, such for instanceas a lock ring D in screw threaded engagement withthe end of the sleeve'and a key'd "A second movable clutch D is locatedin operative relation to the second fixed clutch member C The clutchmember D is rotatively mounted upon a circular shoulder (2 formed on themovable clutch member D. Leather or other. wearing surfaces d arepreferably interposed between the cotiperat- .ing members of the twoclutches to insure a such for instance as dowel pins. 1 the pinions g.meshes with a relatively tight engagement between the members.

A circular casing F concentrlcally surrounds the driving shaft A and isrigidly larger gear (1 fixed upon the sleeve E and preferably formedinte ally with the hub of the clutchmember The pinions g are largerthanthe pinions g and each of them meshes with a relatively smallerpinion k formed upon the'end of a sleeve K, the

latter loosely surrounding the sleeve E. The pinions g which are smallerthan either of the pinions g and g mesh with a gear k carried by a thirdsleeve H relatively surrounding a second sleeve K.

Suitable bushings are interposed between the relatively movable parts,such for instance as a 1mm a between the shaft A and the sleeve E, aining 6 between the sleeves J and K, anda bushin 9 between the hub 05and the surrounding clutch member D The adjacent ends of the" concentricsleeves E, K, and H, are provided with disks E,

" K and H preferably formed integral with and projectin radially aroundthe respective sleeves. a-ch of the disks referred to is provided with aperipheral circular flange surrounded by a clutch band. '6, l9, and kdesignate the clutch bands which surround and are adapted to grip thecircular flanges on the respective disks E, K and H. Any suitablemechanism is rovided for sepa-' rately causing the clutcli bands to.grip the flanges which they surround and thereby lock the sleeves, whichconcentrically surround the drivin shaft, against rotation. In Fig, 2 Ihave s own as a means for causing the clutch band 6 to grip the circularflange on the disk E, a bell crank R fulcrumed upon a rod r, to-the armsof which the ends of the band e areflconnected. S indicates a suitableconnection for oscillating the bell shown) may be provided for actuatingthe bands I). and k.

Eis a sprocket wheel L or other suitable power transmitting device, bymeans of 76 which rotary motion is communicated to the mechanism whichis to bedriven, such for instance as the rear axle of an automobile. Akey Z'1s shown as'the means for non-rotatively securing the sprocketwheel upon the I N indicates a disk concentrically surrounding the endof the sleeve. E and secured thereon through a screw-threadedengagement. 80

n designates a locking ring for securely retaining the disk N upon theend of the sleeve. V ing the hub ofthe disk N is a yoke m con-v nectedto and preferably formed integrally with an oscillating lever M pivotedat m. Within the yoke m is a lining M of tough metal spaced apart fromthe inner surface of the disk N to form a race-way in vwhich are locatedball bearings'o.

m desi ates a washer of tough metal located within the inwardlyextending radial flange of the lining M to assume the wear of the ballbearings.

A pair of collars p and p surround the shaft A a short distance from theend of the sleeve E and form a race-way for ball bearings o interposedbetween the collars. Any suitable means may beprovided for preventingthe axial movement of the collar 2 to the right, such for instance as aring p fixed upon the shaft. Interposed between the disk N and thecollar 32 is a spring P the tension of which tends to move the sleeve E"and thereby force the clutch D into engagement with the cooperatingfixed clutch member C. Theo eration of my invention is as follows: T eshaft A is rotated through its connection withthe motor and with itrolie 'tates the fly wheel C and fixed clutch members C and C When it isdesired to rotate the-drivenelement E and with it the mechanismoperatively connected to the sprocket wheel Lat the'same speed at whichthe shaft 115.

is rotated, the lever M is oscillated to the po-. sition shown in Fig.1, thereby permltting the sprin P toexpand and move the sleeve .E towarmovable clutch member D- lntoxenga ement 1 the left in Fig. 1 and forcethe oscillated so as to partially compress the spring P and disengagethe clutch member D from the clutch member C without however moving theclutch member D into contact with the coiiperating member C I When it isdesired to rotate'the driven ele- 130 Located adjacent to andsurroundand prevent the rotation thereby lock meat. at a slower speedthan that at which the driving shaft A rotates, the lever M isoscillated so as to further compress the spring P'and move the clutchmember D 1n to orcible engagement with the cooperatln'gmember C Theclutch band is is then caii'sedto grip the flange ofthe disk K of thesleeve K. The pinion carrier, consisting in the clutch member D and thecasing F, then rotates with the shaft A. The pinion k is held immovableand as it is smaller than the pinion g meshing therewith, the latterdoes not make a-complete revolution about the stub shaft G while it isbeing carried'with the clutch member D completely around the pinion k Asthe pinion g is rigidly secured to the pinion g it does not make acomplete revolution around the supporting stub shaft, while it is makinga complete revolution with the clutch member D con- 1 sequently as thepinion g is smaller than the gear Wheel d with which it meshes, thelatter is rotated less than a complete revolution during each revolutionof the pinion carrier. The relative sizes of the pinions I0 9 g, andgear d are preferably such that the gear wheel 03 makes a third of onerevolution while the pinion carrier is making a complete revolution. Thesprocket wheel L is therefore rotated at slow speed and with increasedpower.

When it is desired to rotate the driven element and -with it themechanism oper-.

atively connected to the sprocket wheel L in a direction the reverse ofthat in which the shaft A is rotating, the lever M continues in positionto force the clutch member 1) into engagement with the cotiperatingmember G and the clutch band it is caused to (grip the circular flangewhich it surrounds and against rotation the sleeve H. As the pinion g issmaller than the gear h with which it meshes 'and which is heldstationary, each revolution of the pinion carrier causes the pinion-9'to make more than one revplntion about its supporting stub shaft G. Thsincreased speed is communicated to the pinion g through theintermediate pinion to which both of the pinions g' and g? are pinned.As the rotation of the about the stub shaft G exceeds the rotation *ofthe pinion carrier, the gear wheel cl is driven in a reverse directionand such reverse movement is communicated to the sprocket wheel L. j

'lhe,clutch band 1: serves as a brake to frictionally engage the flangeon'the disk E and retard the rotation of the driven element and of themechanism operatively connected to the sprocket wheel L.

It will be noticed that the pinions upon the stub shafts and gears withwhich they mesh are completely surrounded by the casmg F, therebyprotecting the pinions and the spirit of my invention.

pinion g may be driven in a reversedirection to that of the rotatingshaft, such different movements of the driven elementbeing easilyeffected by extremely simple mechanical means.

hile I have described more or less precisely the details ofconstruction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto,as I contemplate changes in form,

the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents, ascircumstances may suggest or'render expedient, without Having now fullydescribed my invention, what I claim new, and

- Letters Patent, is

1. In a transmission mechanism, thecombination with a driving element,of two clutch members fixed to the'driving element, two clutch membersmovable relatively to the driving element, means for separately engagingsaid movable clutch members with said fixed clutch members, a drivenelement, means rigidly connecting one of said movable clutch memberswith the driven element, and differential mechanism interposed betweenthe second movable clutch memberand said driven element for driving thelat- -ter at less, speed than the speed of the driving element.

2. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with a driving element,of two clutch members fixed to the driving element, two clutch membersmovable relatively to the driving element, 1118:1118 for separatelydeparting from desire to secure by.

engaging said movable clutch members with said fixed clutch members, adriven clement,

means rigidly connecting one of said movable clutch members with thedriven element, and differential mechanism interposed between the secondmovable clutch member and said driven element for rotating the lat- .terin a reverse direction to the rotation of the driving element.

3. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with a driving element,of two clutch members fixed to the driving element,

two clutch members movable relatively to the driving element; means forseparately engaging said movable'clutch members with said fixed clutchmembers, a driven element,

means rigid-1y connecting one of ,said mov- Y able clutch members withthe driven element, a casing rigidly secured tothe second movable clutchmember, and differential gearing carried in said casing engaging saiddriven element.

4. In a transmission mechanism,- the com bination with a driving shaft,of'two clutch members fixed to said shaft, a driven sleeve rotativelysurrounding and axially movable, upon said shaft, means for axiallymoving said sleeve upon said shaft, a clutch member fixed to said sleeveand adapted to engage one of the clutch memberson the shaft, a secondclutch member rotatively surrounding but axially immovable upon said,sleeve and adapted to engage the second clutch member on the shaft, andspeed reducing mechanism interposed between said sleeve and the secondclutch member rotatively mounted thereon.

5. In a power transmission mechanism, the combination with a drivingshaft, of a fly wheel fixed thereon, two clutch members fixed to saidfly wheel, a driven sleeve rota-- unembers fixed to said shaft, a drivensleeve I rotatively surrounding and axially movable upon said shaft,means for axially moving said sleeve upon said shaft, a clutch memberfixed to said sleeve and adapted to engage one of the clutch members onthe shaft, a second clutch member rotatively surrounding but axiallyimmovable upon said sleeve and adapted to engage the second clutchmember on the shaft, a casing'rigidly secured to the clutch member whichrotatively .surrounds said sleeve, two pinions fixed together andjournaled in said casing,

' a gear wheel fixed upon said sleeve in mesh with one of said. pinions,a second sleeve loosely surrounding said first sleeve, a gear wheelfixed to said second sleeve meshing with the second of said pinions, andmeans for locking said second sleeve against rotation. v

l 7. In a transmission mechanism, the 'combination with a driving shaft,of two clutch .members fixed to ,said'shaft, a driven sleeve rotativelysurrounding and axially movable .upon said shaft,jmeans for axiallymoving said sleeve upon said shaft,-a.elu'tch member fixed to saidsleeve and adapted to engage one ofthe clutch members on the'shaft, a

second clutch member rotatively surround ing'but. axially immovable uponsaid sleeve 4 and adapted to engage the secondflcl'utch member on theshaft, a casing rigidly. 's'ecured to the clutch member which rotativelysurrounds said sleeve, three pinions fixed together andjournaled in saidcasing, a gear wheel fixed upon said sleeve in mesh with one of saidpinions, a second sleeve loosely surrounding said first sleeve, a gearwheel fixed to said second sleeve in mesh with the second of saidpinions, 'a third sleeve loosely surrounding the second-sleeve, a gearwheel fixed upon saidthird sleeve in mesh with the third of saidpinions, and means for separately locking said second and third sleevesagainst rotation.

8. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with a driving shaft, oftwo clutch members fixed to said shaft, a driven sleeve rotativelysurrounding and axially movable upon said shaft, means for axiallymoving said sleeve upon said shaft, a'clutch member' fixed tosaid sleeveand adapted to engage one of the clutch members on the shaft,'a secondclutch member rotatively surrounding but axially immovable upon saidsleeve and adapted to engage the second clutch member 011 the shaft, acasing, rigidly secured to the clutch member which rotatively surroundssaid sleeve, three pinions fixed together'andjournaled in said casing, agear wheel fixed upon said sleeve in mesh with one of said pinions,'asecond sleeve loosely surrounding said first sleeve, a gear wheelfixed to said second sleeve in mesh with the second of. said pinions, athird sleeve loosely surrounding the second sleeve, a gear wheel fixedupon said third sleeve in mesh with the third of said pinions, disksradially surrounding and fixed upon said sleeves,

clutch bands surrounding and adapted to engage said disks to separatelylock said sleeves against rotation.

9. In a transmission mechanism, the combination with'a driving shaft, oftwo clutch loosely surrounding. and axially movable upon said shaft,means for axially moving said sleeve; a clutch member fixed on saidmembers fixed to said shaft, a driven sleeve sleeve adapted to'engageone of the clutch members on said shaft when. the sleeve is axiallymoved in one direction, a second clutch member axially movable with saidsleeve, and adapted to engage the second clutch member on said shaftwhen the sleeve is axially moved in the other direction.

' vIn testimony whereof, I signthis specifi cation in the presence oftwo witnesses.

. Witnesses: I H. W. JEFFERY, G. H. EDDY.

' n oBEnrr sYMMoNDs-

